"Number 5" by STEVE MILLER BAND (2012 Edsel 'Special Edition' CD Remaster in Digipak) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

"...Industrial Military Complex Hex..."

For many worshippers of 70ts Rock and Steve Miller's LP output from that revered period – our home collections would probably have consisted of 1973's "The Joker" on Capitol Records (in a natty gatefold), 1976's "Fly Like An Eagle" and the wonderful but sorely overlooked "Book Of Dreams" from 1977 (with Inner Sleeve) – both on Mercury Records.

Well here's another 'overlooked' nugget in his voluminous back catalogue - 1970's "Number 5" - loaded down with the talent of Boz Scaggs, Ben Sidran, Nicky Hopkins, Lee Michaels and members of Charlie McCoy's Area Code 615 (who did the 'Old Grey Whistle Test' theme "Stone Fox Chase" on their 1970 LP "Trip In The Country").

Edsel of the UK have been steadily feeding Steve Miller Band fans a diet of these tastefully presented CD reissues in foldout card digipaks - all newly mastered with superb Audio and featuring upgraded booklets with the artists’ involvement (photos from his own collection, reminiscences) - but sadly minus any outtakes (see full list of titles in the series below). Here are the details for five alive...

UK released 17 September 2012 (25 September 2012 in the USA) - "Number 5" by STEVE MILLER BAND on Edsel EDSA 5007 (Barcode 740155500733) is a straightforward 'Special Edition' Remaster of the 1970 US 10-Track LP with CD Digipak Packaging/Expanded Liner Notes and plays out as follows (36:20 minutes):

1. Good Morning

2. I Love You

3. Going To The Country

4. Hot Chili

5. Tokin's

6. Going To Mexico [Side 2]

7. Steve Miller's Midnight Tango

8. Industrial Military Complex Hex

9. Jackson-Kent Blues

10. Never Kill Another Man

Tracks 1 to 10 are his 5th studio album "Number 5" - released July 1970 in the USA on Capital SKAO-436 and November 1970 in the UK on Capitol EA-ST 436. Produced by STEVE MILLER - it peaked at No. 23 in the USA but didn't chart in the UK.

As you can see from the list of reissues provided below - Edsel of the UK have had a go at a huge swath of his entire recorded out (excepting a few albums from 1971, 1972 and 1973). The card-digipak is a three-way foldout affair with a picture CD and a new 12-page booklet. JOEL SLEVIN of the Soul Francisco Chronicle fanzine and all-round Music Consultant has done the short but informative liner notes which includes photos from Steve's collection, lyrics, original recording credits/reissue details and some label repro's of American 45s ("Going To The Country" on Capitol 2878 and "Going To Mexico" on Capitol 2945) and the British LP on Capitol Records EA-ST 436. It's nicely done. PHIL KINRADE did the new CD Master at Alchemy in London and it sounds amazing - really lovely warmth on the instruments - none too hissy - but too dry either where NR has been excessively used.

"Number 5" was Steve Miller's best selling American album to date (over 350,000 copies on release in 1970) and featured the songwriting talent of BOZ SCAGGS, Fusion Keyboardist BEN SIDRAN, his Bassist BOBBY WINKELMAN and his Drummer TIM DAVIS as well as great STEVE MILLER originals. The players included England's ace Keyboardist NICKY HOPKINS and members of AREA CODE 615 - Charlie McCoy, Bobby Thompson, Buddy Spicher and Wayne Moss along with ex Family Tree Guitarist LEE MICHAELS. It opens on a song from their soon-to-depart bassist Bob Winkelman called "Good Morning". Winkelman takes Lead Vocals on the song while Steve's younger brother Jimmy Miller plays Lead Guitar - it's tippy wind-swirling entrance is almost Todd Rundgren in its feel and Winkelman's voice could easily be mistaken fro Steve's. Jimmy Miller plays a lead guitar blinder on it too.

Things go decidedly 'Steve Miller' with the wickedly good "I Love You" - the first of four solo-penned songs on the album. While the Acoustic Guitars strum and cascading vocals swoon over your speakers like The Beach Boys circa "Sunflower" and "Surf's Up" - the song is anchored by brilliant Charlie McCoy Harmonica playing. Along with his fellow Area Code 615 band mate Buddy Spicher on Fiddle - McCoy's Harmonica presence is felt again on the first single released from the album in August 1970 - "Going To The Country" - an unconvincing Country-Rock song that's busy but not particularly memorable. Drummer Tim Davis offers up the first of two songs "Hot Chili" (with one 'l') - the other being "Tokin's". Bud Billings provides the multi-layered Trumpet on the Herb Alpert 'Tijuana' vibe to "Hot Chili" while three members of Area Code 615 countrified the hometown "Tokin's" with McCoy's Harp and Bobby Thompson's Banjo.

Side 2 opens strongly with the 2nd 45 single issued by Capitol from the album - a Funky-Blues co-write with Boz Scaggs by Miller on "Going To Mexico". I've always been a sucker for this groovy little tune that features Lee Michaels on Organ and Curley Cooke on Rhythm Guitar while Steve lets rip on some rather excellent lead Guitar. Benefitting from an expert remix from famed Audio Engineer Glyn Johns - "Going To Mexico" was paired on the rarely seen Capitol 2945 7" single in the USA with "Steve Miller's Midnight Tango" - the first of Ben Sidran's compositions on the album (his second was a co-write with Miller on "Going To The Country"). Love it. With Sidran providing cool keyboard tinkles - "Steve Miller’s Midnight Tango" is the kind of SM song that stays with you.

Jon Savage who compiled the superb "1966" double-CD and accompanying book - put together a CD compilation I loved called "Meridian 1970". On it he chose Miller’s sick-of-it anti-war song "Industrial Military Complex Hex" where he wearily sings "...from Sunday to Sunday...all I hear is bad news..." as the mood chugs along feeling like The Who on a melodic song tip. Just as good is the album’s final showings – two more SM originals – the trippy seven-minute guitar and voices of "Jackson-Kent Blues" - another song raging at the 'four shot down by the National Guards' because they didn't agree with Nixon's views on Vietnam. I've always loved it's echoed space guitars and manic voices - like a nation stoned - a nation that doesn't want to be. The album bows out on "Never Kill Another Man" with Lonnie Turner on Fretless Bass and Nicky Hopkins on Piano - both they and Keith Spicher (on Strings) give the ballad a majesty as Miller wishes "...if I can make it through through this life...I'll never kill another man..."

For sure the grittier 'trying times' Side 2 of the "Number 5" LP feels far better than the slightly ditzy Country jigs of Side 1 - but its once again one of those Steve Miller albums that has great moments criminally overlooked with the passage of four and half decades. Time to brings the numbers back into your home...

The 2011 and 2012 STEVE MILLER BAND 'Special Edition' 

CD Reissue Series from Edsel Records of the UK

1. Children Of The Future (April 1968) - released 17 September 2012 on Edsel EDSA 5003 - Barcode 0740155500337

2. Sailor (October 1968) – released 17 September 2012 on Edsel EDSA 5004 - Barcode 740155500733

3. Brave New World (June 1969) - released 17 September 2012 on Edsel EDSA 5005 - Barcode 740155500535

4. Your Saving Grace (November 1969) - released 17 September 2012 on Edsel EDSA 5006 - Barcode 740155500634

5. Number 5 (July 1970) – released 17 September 2012 on Edsel EDSA 5007 – Barcode 740155500733

6. Fly Like An Eagle (July 1976) – released 11 October 2010 on Edsel EDSX 3010 (with Bonus DVD) – Barcode 740155301033 – see REVIEW

7. Book Of Dreams (May 1977) - released 7 February 2011 on Edsel EDSS 1051 – Barcode 740155105136 – see REVIEW

8. Circle Of Love (October 1981) – released 7 February 2011 on Edsel EDSS 1052 – Barcode 740155105235

9. Abracadabra (June 1982) - released 7 March 2011 on Edsel EDSS 1053 – Barcode 740155105334

10. The Steve Miller Band Live! (April 1983) - released 4 April 2011 on Edsel EDSS 1056 – Barcode 740155105631

11. Italian X-Rays (November 1984) - released 7 March 2011 on Edsel EDSS 1054 – Barcode 740155105433

12. Wide River (July 1993) - released 7 March 2011 on Edsel EDSS 1055 – Barcode 740155105532

PPS: Could someone please get to Remastering long-standing holes in the Steve Miller back catalogue - October 1971's "Rock Love", March 1972's "Recall The Beginning...A Journey From Eden" and especially October 1973's "The Joker" – that way fans and the curious would have access to a 'near' complete run in decent Audio... 

"Morning Way" by TRADER HORNE (2015 Earth Records 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Here Comes The Rain..."

This obscure and rare Vinyl LP from 1970 "Morning Way" by TRADER HORN (booked at £150 with its insert but can sell for twice that and more) has seen its share of CD reissues - Sanctuary's Castle Music in 2000 and Cherry Red's Esoteric Recordings in 2008.

Now its the turn of new kids on the Acid-Folk block - 'Earth Records' of the UK who focus on seriously rare Folk and its musical environs – British ex Pentangle guitar virtuoso Bert Jansch, America's folky Jackson C. Frank (produced by Paul Simon and featuring a non-album S&G song "Blues Run The Game"), Australian multi-instrumentalist and cult artist Steve Warner and Tasmanian hippy Howard Eynon who recorded one album in 1974 delightfully called "So What If I'm Standing in Apricot Jam" (know what you're saying mate).

This 2015 Earth Records CD Reissue of Trader Horne's lone outing on Dawn Records apes the track run of the Esoteric Recordings version in that it includes two Bonus Tracks - their one-off non-album UK 7" single "Here Comes The Rain" b/w "Goodbye Mercy Kelly" from February 1970.

TRADER HORNE was essentially a man and woman duo - Northern Ireland's multi-instrumentalist JACKIE McAULEY (born in Coleraine) who was ex Belfast Gypsies and Them while JUDY DYBLE had of course fronted Fairport Convention on their 1968 debut Polydor Records LP prior to Sandy Denny joining for 1969's "What We Did On Holidays" (she also spent a brief stint with the ex King Crimson trio - Giles, Giles and Fripp). McAuley and Dyble supplemented their sound with three sessionmen of re-known (see Players below). Here are the Children of Oare and Elven Kings (if you know what I'm saying)...

UK and USA released 16 October 2015 – "Morning Way" by TRADER HORNE on Earth Records EARTHCD006 (Barcode 809236170675) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster in a 5” Single Sleeve Card Repro with a Gatefold Insert and Two Bonus Tracks. It plays out as follows (52:51 minutes):

1. Jenny May

2. Children Of Oare

3. Three Rings For Elven Kings

4. Growing Man

5. Down And Out Blues

6. The Mixed Up Kind 

7. Better Than Today [Side 2]

8. In My Loneliness

9. Sheena

10. The Mutant

11. Morning Way

12. Velvet To Atone

13. Luke That Never Was

Tracks 1 to 13 are their debut and only album "Morning Way" - released early March 1970 in the UK on Dawn Records DNLS 3004 and in the USA on Janus JNS 3012. Produced by BARRY MURRAY - it failed to chart in either country.

All songs are Jackie McAuley originals except three - a cover version of the Traditional "Down And Out Blues" while "Morning Way" is by Judy Dyble and "Luke That Never Was" is a co-write between Judy Dyble and guitarist Martin Quittenton who played on all of the Rod Stewart albums between 1969 and 1973 on Mercury Records (including "Maggie May"). 

BONUS TRACKS:

14. Here Comes The Rain

15. Goodbye Mercy Kelly

Tracks 14 and 15 are the A&B-sides of a non-album 7" single released February 1970 in the UK on Dawn Records DNS 1003. 

The Players:

JACKIE McAULEY - Lead Vocals Guitar, Harpsichord, Organ, Piano, Flute, Congas and Celeste

JUDY DYBLE - Lead Vocals, Electric Auto-Harp and Piano

RAY ELLIOTT - Alto Flute and Bass Clarinet

JOHN GODFREY - Bass Guitar and Arranger

ANDY WHITE - Drums

It's as well that Earth Records put a large info sticker on the shrinkwrap of the single card sleeve – because apart from the repro of the fabled and rare gatefold insert that came with original LPs – there's no booklet and therefore bugger all info by way of anything. There's an 'Earth Records' inner card sleeve (the same generic label inner came with my copy of Bert Jansch’s beautiful "Avocet" - equally bare) that has a logo but no other info. Frankly to be charging full whack for this CD (which is what I paid for it) – it’s a bit tread-bare to say the least and is docked a star for lack of effort and imagination. And although their adverts promise and suggest a 'Remaster' – there are no mastering credits or reissue details anywhere on the packaging or disc. So neither you nor I know where 'Earth Records' got this CD remaster. The sound is good if not a little hissy in places – at times its even beautiful (much like the music). I don't have the former CD reissues so I can't compare but let's just say that it sounds good rather than great...

The sticker declares the album to be a 'shining example of British Psychedelia’ that is utter tosh. This is a Folk LP with more Madrigal arrangements that hard-hitting fuzz guitar workouts. You could put better songs like the Mellow Candle melodic "The Mixed Up Kind" and the Jethro Tull influenced Flute Acoustic and Piano "The Mutant" firmly into the Acid-Folk category ("Mutant" turned up on the "Dust In The Nettles" 3CD Box Set - see review). But twee stuff like the Instrumental "Three Rings For Elven Kings" and the dated madrigal "Growing Man" is hard to take. Judy Dyble alone handles the excellent "Down And Out Blues" and the Piano/Vocals of "Velvet To Atone" is stark Kate Bush (but a hissy transfer I'm afraid). The co-write with Rod Stewart's guitarist Martin Quittenton on "Luke That Never Was" gives us a pretty strummer - but best of all is the A-side to the single "Here Comes The Rain" - a genius melody that's better than much of what's on the album. Sanctuary Records chose it as good representative track on their "Garden Of Delights" CD compilation in 2006 compiled by Pete Lawrence and AJ of 'The Big Chill' Radio Program.

Judy Dyble would be replaced by Saffron Summerfield (sometimes known as just 'Saffron') but the band split before recordings were made. Summerfield would have her own Folk career in the 70ts, played with Lol Coxhill and made music into the 00's.

Like so many albums from the period - it's part knob - part brilliance. But thankfully the album has more good than bad...those magic moments being so worth it...

PS: Earth Records also pressed a limited edition COLOURED VINYL Edition of the Reissue (1000 Copies) 

"Wonderful World, Beautiful People" (USA LP title) aka "Jimmy Cliff" (UK LP title) by JIMMY CLIFF (Part of Hip-O Select's 2005 4CD Remastered Book Set 'Better Days Are Coming: The A&M Years 1969-1971') - A Review by Mark Barry...

USA LP ARTWORK and TITLE

UK LP ARTWORK and TITLE

USA CD Remaster Version of The Album within this 4CD Book Set

Rear Sleeve of the Hip-O Select 4CD Book Set

"…I've Got Many Rivers To Cross...Until I Get Over…"

In the late 60ts and early 70ts - Reggae superstar JIMMY CLIFF was released on A&M Records in the USA and Island and Trojan Records in the UK – with an awful lot of crossover on the tracks between the two countries.

But if you want the best audio for his socially smart and Reggae-Soulful “Wonderful World, Beautiful People”/"Jimmy Cliff" LP (1970 in the USA, 1969 in the UK) – this gorgeous Hip-O Select 4CD Book Set out of the States is the place to locate it (and so much more). Here are the details and the many rivers to cross...

USA released October 2005 - "Better Days Are Coming: The A&M Years 1969-1971" by JIMMY CLIFF on Hip-O Select B0005362-02 (Barcode 602498322994) is a 4CD Book Set - and Disc 1 features the "Wonderful World, Beautiful People" LP (known as "Jimmy Cliff" in the UK) with one Bonus Track and plays out as follows (36:47 minutes):

Side 1:

1. Time Will Tell

2. Many Rivers To Cross

3. Viet Nam

4. I’m Gonna Use What I Got (To Get What I Need)

5. Hard Road To Travel

Side 2:

6. Wonderful World, Beautiful People

7. Sufferin’ In The Land

8. Hello Sunshine

9. My Ancestors

10. That’s The Way Life Goes

11. Come Into My Life

Tracks 1 to 11 are the album "Wonderful World, Beautiful People" released January 1970 in the USA on A&M Records SP-4251 and November 1969 in the UK as “Jimmy Cliff” on Trojan TRLS-16 with the same tracks.

BONUS TRACK:

12. Waterfall

US and UK 7" SINGLES around the album:

“Waterfall” was the non-album B-side of the 7" single "Wonderful World, Beautiful People" released in November 1969 on A&M Records 1146 in the USA. The song “Waterfall” had been released as the A-side of a UK 45 on Island WIP-6039 in late 1969 with “The Reward” as its B-side (no featured on this set).

A&M also issued "Viet Nam" from the album as a 45 in the USA on A&M Records AM 1167 in February 1970 with "Come Into My Life" as its B-side. Trojan Records in the UK issued "Come Into My Life" as the A-side in March 1970 on Trojan TR-7745 with the album cut "Sufferin' In The Land" as its B-side (some European territories like Germany and Italy even gave this release a picture sleeve – as they did the release that preceded it - "Viet Nam").

PACKAGING and AUDIO: 

The packaging is exceptional - a long hardback book with embossed sleeve in what feels like recycled card and paper, pictured and themed CDs, superb US and UK discographies, detailed liner notes - it's beautiful to hold and look at. But the real goods as ever lie in the sound...

GAVIN LURSSEN has remastered the original master tapes at the Mastering Lab and the sound/audio is gorgeous. One of the complaints about reggae CD reissues is that they always sound muffled and compressed compared to the whack of their original vinyl counterparts - and as a lover of old records - that's actually true. One of the reasons for this is that some small independent reggae labels had to reuse tapes for economy, so the originals don't exist - and their reissues use a copy of a copy. But this is A&M/Island Records - so the tapes are still in tact and as evidenced here - in tip-top shape. Lurssen has restored life into these songs and brought out the lovely musicianship on them, excessive hiss levels are kept to a minimum without loss of feel and track after track is a joy to listen to. The clarity of the bass, piano, drums, backing vocals and strings on "Wonderful World, Beautiful People" is just one of many examples - an absolute revelation.

An impressive nine of the eleven tracks are Jimmy Cliff originals – including some stone cold classics as “Wonderful World, Beautiful People”, “Come Into My Life” and the magisterial “Many Rivers To Cross” – bizarrely only ever a B-side on 45 to “The Harder They Come” on Island WIP 6139 in October 1972. The two covers have interesting histories – both being Soul songs from 1968. “I’m Gonna Use What I Got (To Get What I Need)” is a Jimmy Holiday A-side from his days at Minit Records (October 1968 USA 7” single on Minit 32053). Cliff takes a mid-tempo number and ratchets up the tempo with added strings and trombones and those reggae big drums. It cleverly feels like a Reggae message song. With a wickedly good organ groove and backbeat - the pride of roots come shining through in the other cover – “My Ancestors”. It’s a Bob Tubert and Demetriss Tapp song picked up by Lou Rawls in February 1968 on Capitol Records CL 15533 - a song about the singer’s son being as ‘mighty’ as his ‘ancestors’ through bloodline. He kind of rocks it up for "That's The Way It Goes" (not great really) and its easy to see why the chipper and upbeat "Come Into My Life" was picked as a 45 - the kind of crossover Reggae-Soul 7” single radio loved.

To sum up - sure it's expensive and it could have been sequenced to feature more of what we want - but "Better Days Are Coming" is still a peach - a thing of beauty to behold and more importantly to listen too. A lot of it isn’t even Reggae in the traditional sense of the word – more Reggae-Soul – with a positive vibe and message for all to hear.

If you want a cheaper CD variant of "Wonderful World, Beautiful People"/"Jimmy Cliff" - Caroline Records of the UK have issued a November 2015 ‘Expanded Edition’ of "Jimmy Cliff" (the UK title) on Caroline CAROLR026CD (Barcode 600753634790) which has the 11-track LP and a generous 13 extras – rarities – even some foreign language versions.

But for me there’s something about Lurssen’s mastering on the 2005 Hip-O Select 4CD reissue that sends me every time.

Either way - frankly - cross as many rivers as you can to get this set into your life… 

"Looking On" by THE MOVE (2016 Esoteric Recordings 2CD 'Deluxe Edition' Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Show Us Your Lettuce..." 

As someone who's worked a lifetime in record shops - I can count on one hand the number of times I've actually seen a decent-condition Vinyl copy of The Move's third album "Looking On" from either side of the pond. Its like Procol Harum's "Home" (also from 1970) - sank without a trace on release despite its Hard Rock credentials.

Released as the first LP on Fly Records - famously the home of T. Rex, John Kongos and all those 'Twofer' double-albums for Regal Zonophone artists like Procol Harum, Tyrannosaurus Rex and even John Williams - "Looking On" disappeared after its December 1970 release date and has been all but lost to the mists of time ever since. It was belatedly released on Capitol Records in the USA in the spring of 1971 but did bugger all business their either.

Moving forward and away from the "Blackberry Way" Pop-Rock of the April 1968 debut "The Move" and more in keeping with the Rock progression of the "Shazam" album in February of 1970 - the "Looking On" LP was grittier – a far heavier affair - and essentially a new direction for the band. "Looking On" was a deliberate musical-segue into Hard Rock with some Prog leanings - and I'd argue the LP is a bit of a lost gem.

Which brings us to this superb new reissue. Esoteric Recordings (part of Cherry Red of the UK) have whomped MOVE fans with 2016 reissues of "The Move" and "Shazam" in single and multiple-disc 'Deluxe Edition' issues (see separate reviews and list below). Now we get their 3rd platter "Looking On" in a superbly presented 2CD 'Deluxe Edition' boasting a cache of Previously Unreleased BBC Sessions from the band line up that featured Roy Wood, Jeff Lynne, Rick Price and Bev Bevan (later with ELO). Here are the details...

UK released Friday, 27 May 2016 (3 June 2016 in the USA) - "Looking On" by THE MOVE on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 22547 (Barcode 5013929464742) is a 2CD 'Deluxe Edition' with a 2016 Remaster and plays outs as follows:

Disc 1 (47:48 minutes)

1. Looking on

2. Turkish Tram Conductor Blues

3. What?

4. When Alice Came Back To The Farm

5. Open Up Said The World At The Door [Side 2]

6. Brontosaurus

7. Feel Too Good

Tracks 1 to 7 are their 3rd studio album "Looking On" - released December 1970 in the UK on Fly Records FLY 1 and April 1971 in the USA on Capitol Records ST 658. Produced by ROY WOOD and JEFF LYNNE - it didn't chart in either country.

BONUS TRACK:

8. Lightnin' Never Strikes Twice - non-album B-side of "Brontosaurus" released March 1970 in the UK on Regal Zonophone RZ 3026 and in the USA on Deram 1197

Disc 2 (47:06 minutes):

"Looking On" - Outtakes And Rarities

1. The Duke Of Ellington's Lettuce

2. Looking on (Part One - Take 3/Part 2 - Take 12)

3. Brontosaurus (Mono US Radio Promo Edit -

4. Turkish Tram Conductor Blues (Take 5 - Rough Mix)

BBC Sessions - March to July 1970 (All PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)

5. She's A Woman

6. Bev Bevan Interview

7. Brontosaurus

8. Falling Forever

9. Lightnin' Never Strikes Twice (Tracks 5 to 9 recorded 23 March 1970)

10. Looking On

11. When Alice Comes Back To The Farm

12. She's A Woman (Tracks 10 to 12 recorded 28 July 1970)

THE MOVE:

ROY WOOD - Oboe, Sitar, Slide Guitar, Cello, Guitar, Bass and All Saxophones

JEFF LYNNE - Guitar, Piano, Vocals Percussion and Drums on "Feel Too Good"

RICK PRICE - Bass

BEV BEVAN - Drums and Percussion

Guests:

DORIS TROY and P.P. ARNOLD - Backing Vocals on "Feel Too Good"

Each of Esoteric's reissues has come in single disc issues (plain jewel case) or - this - card digipak 'Deluxe Editions'. Here you get a chunky four-flap gatefold card sleeve with a 20-page colour booklet in the right pouch with a foldout two-sided poster in the left pouch and two picture CDs. The double-sided foldout POSTER is fab - a collage of black-and-white press clippings on one side with a full-page colour advert for the album on the opposite. Each flap has MOVE memorabilia (there's even photos beneath the see-through CD trays) and the 20-page booklet has in-depth liner notes from noted writer MARK PAYTRESS (author of many books from the period) with thanks to ROB CAIGER. There are trade adverts, reviews of the album and singles and photos of the hairy men themselves.

But the big news is a 2016 '24-Bit Digital Remaster' from original analogue tapes by the experienced Audio Engineer BEN WISEMAN done at Broadlake Studios in Hertfordshire (Tape Transfers done by ROB KEYLOCH at Church Walk Studios in London). The sound on here is HUGE and not without being overly bombastic for the sake of it. I think the word I'm looking for is 'muscle' - this CD sounds powerful - and as many tracks like "Turkish Tram Conductor Blues" rock out - the benefit is very much 'in your face' and for all the right reasons.

The album's hard-rocking credentials are set in motion with Roy Wood's "Looking On" - a great combo of Move-melody bolstered up some serious riffage - Wood's vocals teasing along with the guitar. The audio on this sucker is huge and I'd say its improved over my 2008 Salvo edition. One of my fave raves on the "Looking On" album is the take-no-prisoners Hard Rock of "Turkish Tram Conductor Blues". Written by Bev Bevan - it’s THE MOVE gone all riffage-mad - the spirit of Leslie West's MOUNTAIN inhabiting both Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne as they hammer down on those heavy guitars. But that's trumped. You can literally feel The Electric Light Orchestra emerging from Jeff Lynne’s "What?" track - gorgeous string arrangements and that strange ELO melody thing that Lynne gets whenever he's at the helm of a song. I love “What?” - both the vocals and guitars treated so that they warble slightly for effect - it's brilliant stuff. Roy Wood ends Side 1 with the slide guitar and ELO cello of a rocker - "When Alice Comes Back To The Farm" - his playing on here is just brilliant and worthy of Juicy Lucy's Glenn Ross-Campbell ("Who Do You Love?"). Fly Records UK tried a 45 in September 1970 featuring Wood's "When Alice Comes Back To The Farm" with Lynne's fab "What?" on the B-side (Fly Records BUG 2) - but no one took interest in this superb double.

Side 2 begins with near eight-minute opus that is Jeff Lynne's "Open Up Said The World At The Door" - an inventive Prog Rock piece that sees Roy Wood use Sitar, Obie and just about any other instrument lying around the studio. The vocal layers are so forthcoming ELO and it even manages some impressive boogie-woogie piano stretches throughout its ambitious duration. Regal Zonophone UK had tried Roy Wood's heavy heavy "Brontosaurus" as a UK 45 as far back as March 1970 (Regal Zonophone RZ 3026) and despite its slightly odd nature was rewarded with a No. 7 chart position. It's non-album B-side "Lightnin' Never Strikes Twice" turns up as a Bonus Track on Disc 1 - and for me was always better than the A-side (sounds awesome too). The album proper ends with Roy Wood's "Feel Too Good" - almost ten minutes of THE MOVE getting Funky-Piano-Rock with a bank of different guitars and the Remaster punching out Rick Price's Bass lines and Bev Bevan's fantastic drumming. Both Apple's Doris Troy and Immediate's P.P. Arnold are credited as providing girly backing vocals but it's hard to hear them with all that's going on. In fact by the time it gets to the "Feel Too Good" vocals and the silly 'show us your lettuce' old geezer talk - the song has probably overstayed its welcome if I'm truthful - but man does the Remaster make it 'rawk'...

For fans Disc 2 represents something worth getting excited about - a bunch of Previously Unreleased BBC Sessions sat alongside three of the rarities that turned up on the December 2008 ‘Salvo’ CD reissue of "Looking On". I just love the Beach Boys Acapella Vocals of "The Duke Of Edinburgh's Lettuce" - the silly Gardener portion of "Feel Too Good" - it only lasts for 1:29 minutes complete with studio dialogue lead in but it's just such great fun. Takes 3 and 12 of "Looking On" were issued as two separate outtakes on the 2008 Salvo CD reissue - here they've been segued into one nine-minute plus version. It sounds great too - much more guitar soloing while the piano tries to get a look in. I've never seen the 'Mono US Radio Promo Edit' of "Brontosaurus" on CD but it's worth having for collectors. Far better is the hard-rocking "Turkish Tram Conductor Blues" - a very cool alternate. "...Here on Top Of The Pops we move back onto the Progressive Rock bit with THE MOVE..." the announcer gets very excited about the new addition to band - ex Idle Race singer Jeff Lynne - as he lays into a great cover of The Beatles "She's A Woman".

The audio is good rather than being great it has to be said - but the power of the band is there for all to hear. We get a short interview with Bev Bevan talking about Carl Wayne's departure and Jeff Lynne's introduction and the new 'heavy' direction of the band. "Falling Forever" comes off so well - very cool vocals and a sort of Byrds feel to the melody. The March 1970 session ends with the B-side "Lightnin' Never Strikes Twice" - a fantastically good re-working of the song but unfortunately with that 'buried back in the mix' sound to the whole recording. The July 1970 session has roughly the same sound and features a three-minute cut of the 'heavy' "Looking On" while the slide of "Alice" is great - Wood tearing it up and clearly listening to too much Juicy Lucy. If anything the BBC stuff only goes to show what an exciting proposition The Move was at that time - alive with new material and an exciting new direction...(the second interview talks of ELO's genesis)...

THE MOVE would manage one more album - 1971's excellent and witty "Message From The Country" which EMI/Harvest Remastered into an Expanded Edition in 2005 (see separate review). They would of course then morph into THE ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA or E.L.O. as they're now more commonly known and The Travelling Wilburys for Jeff Lynne with some of his lifelong musical heroes.

But I'd urge you to go back - way back - back to the days of "Brontosaurus" and his best buddy "Turkish Tram Conductor Blues" - back to a time when 39 schillings and eleven old pence could procure you this tasty platter. THE MOVE had a B-side called "Lightnin' Never Strikes Twice". With this superb reissue I think it has...

PS: UK released 29 April 2016 – THE MOVE CD Editions by Esoteric Recordings are:

1. The Move - 1CD 'Standard Edition' on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2537 (Barcode 5013929463745)

    The Move - 3CD 'Deluxe Edition' on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 32536 (Barcode 5013929463646)

2. Something Else From The Move (June 1968 EP Expanded) - 1CD 'Standard Edition' on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2546 (Barcode 5013929464643)

3. Shazam - 1CD 'Standard Edition' on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2539 (Barcode 5013929463943)

    Shazam - 3CD 'Deluxe Edition' on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 22538 (Barcode 5013929463844)

4. Looking in - 2CD 'Deluxe Edition' on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 22547 (Barcode 5013929464742)

"Loaded" by THE VELVET UNDERGROUND (2015 Atlantic/Rhino 'Single CD' Expanded Edition Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...It Was Alright..."

*** This Review Is For The 2015 Single-CD Remastered Version of 1970's "Loaded" ***

Lou Reed described the Velvets as essentially being a small New York 'Rock 'n' Roll' band - a natty little Pop Group awash with three-minute ditties – peelable bananas and tunes aplenty - swimming ever upwards in the black heroin-addled veins of their streetwise hearts.

I dare say those subjected to their 60ts sonic assaults (especially live) might have taken umbrage with the Louster's 'rounded off' description of The Velvet Underground as a 'Rock 'n' Roll' band - but I think I know what he was getting at. For their 3rd platter - "Loaded" - it's as if the band was trying to get back to 'songs' instead of frenzied workouts with lights and feedback – trying to form a cohesive work that would leave that old 'shock and awe' stuff firmly behind them. Only "Oh! Sweet Nuthin'" goes to 7:29 minutes - and excepting "New Age" and the 'Full Length' versions of "Sweet Jane" and "Rock & Roll" - the rest keep it hovering around three minutes. And it's a wickedly good record for such disciplines. For me 1970's "Loaded" has always been a more mature album - Lou Reed's songwriting moving on - getting better - his obvious Solo career beckoning.

The last time I bought "Loaded" on CD it was the February 1997 Rhino 2CD set called 'Fully Loaded' with Bill Inglot Remasters. That beauty came in a sliding card slipcase and an 'Alternate Version' of the entire album on Disc 2 along with a further 13 Outtakes across both discs.

This 2015 single-CD reissue of "Loaded" keeps the 10-track album, four of those 1997 Bonus Tracks and adds on a new 2015 Remaster from KEVIN REEVES – a vastly experienced Audio Engineer who has done huge numbers of reissues for the Universal umbrella of labels. This CD sounds better and warmer than my previous issue – fabulous clarity on key album tracks like "Cool It Down" and "Who Loves the Sun". Here are the finite details...

UK released Friday 30 October 2015 (November 2015 in the USA) - "Loaded" by THE VELVET UNDERGROUND on Atlantic/Rhino 081227952426 (Barcode 081227952426) offers the 10-track 1970 LP with four Bonus Tracks and plays out as follows (55:30 minutes):

1. Who Loves The Sun

2. Sweet Jane (Full-Length Version - 4:06 minutes)

3. Rock & Roll (Full-Length Version - 4:43 minutes)

4. Cool It Down

5. New Age

6. Head Held High [Side 2]

7. Lonesome Cowboy Bill

8. I Found A Reason

9. Train Round The Bend

10. Oh! Sweet Nuthin'

Tracks 1 to 10 are their 3rd studio album "Loaded" - released November 1970 in the USA on Cotillion SD 9034 and April 1971 in the UK on Atlantic 2400 111. Produced by GEOFFREY HASLAM, SHEL KAGAN and THE VELET UNDERGROUND – the album didn’t chart in either country.

BONUS TRACKS:

11. I'm Sticking With You

12. Ocean

13. I Love You

14. Ride Into The Sun

NOTES: "I'm Sticking With You" mixed by Kevin Reeves in June 2015, "Ocean", "I Love You" and "Ride Into The Sun" mixed by BILL INGLOT in March/April 1994

THE VELVET UNDERGROUND was:

LOU REED - Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Piano and Harmonica

STERLING MORRISON - Lead and Rhythm Guitar

DOUG YOUL - Vocals, Lead Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Organ, Piano, Bass and Drums

MAUREEN "Mo" TUCKER - Drums (Vocals on the Bonus Track "I'm Sticking with You")

GUESTS:

TOMMY CASTANARO - Drums on "Cool It Down" and Head Held High"

BILL YULE - Drums On "Lonesome Cowboy Bill", "Oh! Sweet Nuthin'" and "Ocean"

ADRIAN BARBER - Drums on "Who Loves The Sun"

ADRIAN BARBER and /or BILL YULE - Drums on "Train Round The Bend"

The 12-page booklet features pictures of Atlantic Tape Boxes and Production Sheets, a Rolling Stone magazine review from the 24 December 1970 issue, reissue and remaster credits - but no new liner notes. The booklet looks nice but the total absence of any informative liner notes sort of leaves the reissue and the listener stranded - some history of what happened would have added so much. But what you do get is the new KEVIN REEVES Remaster (with Production Assistance from BILL INGLOT who did the 1997 version) and it Rocks. There is wonderful clarity on offer here...

Given the lack of initial public reaction to the LP - it's hardly surprising that Cotillion belatedly tried a US 45 in March 1971 using the sexily hooky opening track "Who Loves The Sun" with the full seven-minute glory of "Oh! Sweet Nuthin'" on the flipside (Cotillion 45-44107). But it aroused little interest. Atlantic in the UK tried too in April 1971 with "Who Loves The Sun" plopping "Sweet Jane" onto the B-side (Atlantic 2091 008) - but again with no chart joy (this English 7" single is a very hard-to-find vinyl item in Blighty nowadays). For some reason I always think of the brilliant "Sweet Jane" and "Rock & Roll" as a pair - a double-whammy of Lou Reed and VU tunes brimming with street smarts, tales of Jeannie and her radio overseen by an admiring Lou - happy that he's in a 'Rock & Roll Band'. Reed would open his fantastic "Rock & Roll Animal" live set with "Sweet Jane" - Hunter and Ronson tearing it on the guitars. And I love that "hey protest kids" lyric. What a great set of tunes these are.

For me "Cool It Down" has always been one of the album's hidden nuggets - an ubercool double vocal where Lou sings that he's "...looking for Miss Linda Lee..." and her naughty wares. The languid "New Age" hankers back to the dead-inside drugs feel of their debut album. The remaster makes you feel those "...you're over the hill right now and you're looking for love..." lyrics and that strangely beautiful melody - his voice that shouldn't work but does. Side 2 opens with the grunge anger of "Head Up High" and is followed by "Lonesome Cowboy Bill" where The Velvet Underground kind of go Rockabilly in their own unique 'yo-de-lay-de-ho' way. There is noticeable hiss at the beginning of the almost Beach Boys "I Found A Reason" - but it settles down when the band go into those multi-layered vocal coos. It's the kind of "life's lonely highways" song that seems so simple at first but over time seeps into your heart. Treated guitar ushers in "Train Round The Bend" where Lou is sick of trees in the country and wants to get back to the city. The remaster lifts this poisonous little groove right up - sexy and full. The album bows out with "Oh! Sweet Nuthin'" - a song that feels epic only twenty seconds into it. Lou sings of Jimmy Brown who "...ain't got nuthin' at all..." - empathising with broken men and women who walk with their heads down - weight of the world on their shoulders...

The nursery ditty sounding "I'm Sticking With You" sees Maureen "Mo" Tucker take lead vocals - duetting with Lou in the centre passages. Genius move on the part of this reissue is to keep the superlative “Ocean” as one of the Bonus Tracks – originally mixed by Rhino’s Audio Engineers Bill Inglot and John Strother. Reed breaks down into giggles on the quirky "I Love You" while "Ride Into The Sun" feels huge with that floating church organ and those treated vocals. Very cool stuff indeed - a little like the band really.

"...You could just go out and dance to the Rock 'n' Roll station..." - Lou Reed sang 46 years ago. I still feel that affection too and especially towards this forgotten peach of an album...

"Twelve Dreams Of. Dr. Sardonicus" by SPIRIT (1996 and 2009 Epic/Legacy 'Expanded Edition' CD - Vic Anesini Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Turns Me On Man..." 

Sometimes you wonder why a genuine masterpiece album isn't raved about from on high? Overlooked, passed by and forgotten - and it shouldn’t be...

In June 2016 - Los Angeles band SPIRIT are making the news for their alleged plagiarism court case with Led Zeppelin over the opening acoustic guitar refrain for "Stairway To Heaven" which Spirit survivors feel the Zepsters lifted from their song "Taurus" off their June 1968 self-titled album - "Spirit". Personally I'd rather have punters focus on the good Doctor Sardonicus - their sophisticated 3rd platter from late 1970. So here are the dreamlike details...

UK released November 1996 (reissued October 2009) - "Twelve Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus" by SPIRIT on Epic/Legacy 485173 2 (Barcode 5099748517326) features the 12-track 1970 album Remastered onto CD with Four Bonus Tracks and plays out as follows (54:20 minutes):

1. Prelude - Nothin' To Hide
2. Nature's Way
3. Animal Zoo
4. Love Has Found A Way
5. Why Can't I Be Free
6. Mr. Skin
7. Space Child [Side 2]
8. When I Touch You
9. Street Worm
10. Life Has Just Begun
11. Morning Will Come
12. Soldier
Tracks 1 to 12 are their 3rd studio album "Twelve Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus" - released November 1970 in the USA on Epic E 30267 and February 1971 in the UK on Epic S EPC 64191. Produced by DAVID BRIGGS - the album peaked at No. 63 on the USA Pop LP charts (didn't chart in the UK).

Tracks 1, 2, 5, 10, 11 and 12 written by RANDY CALIFORNIA (Lead Guitars & Vocals) - Tracks 3, 6, 8 and 9 written by JAY FERGUSON (Lead Vocals & Percussion) - Track 7 written by JOHN LOCKE (Keyboards) - Track 4 co-written between JAY FERGUSON and JOHN LOCKE. The other band members were MARK ANDES on Bass and Vocals with ED CASSIDY on Drums and Percussion.

BONUS TRACKS:
13. Rougher Road - Previously Unreleased, Recorded 1970, Randy California song
14. Animal Zoo (Mono Single Mix) - July 1970 USA 7" single on Epic 5-10648, A-side
15. Morning Will Come - Previously Unreleased, Recorded 1970, Randy California song
16. Red Light Roll On - July 1970 USA 7" single on Epic 5-10648, Non-Album B-side to "Animal Zoo"
NOTES: Tracks 1 to 12 are STEREO - Tracks 13 to 16 in MONO

The 12-page booklet features new liner notes by Randy California that gives a track-by-track description of the song and its creation - there are several black and white promo photos of the group - Biogs on each original member of the band (the five listed above) - discussion of the famous 'distorted faces' artwork/photograph and the usual reissue credits with the whole effort dedicated to the original LP producer DAVID BRIGGS who did so much to get the sounds they wanted on different tracks. Produced for CD by BOB IRWIN - VIC ANESINI carried out the Remaster at Sony Studios in New York. He's a name I've sung the praises of before. Anesini has handled very prestigious SONY catalogue – Elvis Presley, Simon & Garfunkel, The Byrds, Nilsson, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Carole King, Janis Joplin, Laura Nyro, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Santana, Paul Simon, Mountain and The Jayhawks to name but a few. I seek out his work because it’s the best to my ears. His work here is fabulous. I had the 1990 Mobile Fidelity CD for years and audio-wise they're as good as each other with the Epic/Legacy issue being a helluva lot cheaper and easier to acquire. Let's get to the Californian music...

"Prelude - Nothin' To Hide" is a wickedly good opener showcasing the Bluesy slide guitar of Randy California arising out of an Acoustic beginning. Its 3:43 minutes is full of clever chords, vocal layering and that unexpected slide break (funky) - it's lyrics about being "married to the same bride" sounding racy without knowing why. The acoustic balladry of "Nature's Way" comes as a melodic calmer after all the preceding speaker-to-speaker riffage. "Nature's Way" is a short but gorgeous song and one I return to again and again. It's followed by the album's lead off single "Animal Zoo" - the 7" Mono Single Mix of which is a Bonus Track. You can hear why Epic picked it's upbeat rhythms as an album taster - that hooky beat, the Bass break and Keyboard interlude making it more musically interesting that most anything else on the scene at the time. And as they sing "...much too fat...and a little too long..." during the sound-effect fade out in their best Todd Rundgren mad hatter voices - it had a 'Spirit' sound.

"Love Has Found A Way" floats in with speeded up guitar sounds floating over clever melodic vocal lines - sort of Frank Zappa with a melody at its vibe core. The one-minute and acoustic "Why Can't I Be Free" feels like a beautiful plea for peace of mind as it swirls around in a haze of marijuana. But then we get Side 1's other masterpiece - the brill "Mr. Skin" - it's fantastic choppy beat benefitting from Brass Arrangements done by David Blumberg. Epic in Britain gave it a belated 7" single release in February 1973 with "Nature's Way" on the B-side (Epic S EPC 7082).

Side 2 opens with probably my fave instrumental by them – the trippy brilliance of “Space Child” – a piano floater with superb sound scapes and ideas. I don’t know if anyone else has noticed this but my Mobile Fidelity CD played the track to 3:44 minutes while it’s always been 3:25 minutes on this Epic CD? We then get wickedly good speaker-to-speaker guitar in the driving "When I Touch You" - a Jay Ferguson song that already has Jo Jo Gunne in it - the band he would form after Spirit with Mark Andes and his brother Matthew. "Street Worm" could easily be "Stand Up" or "Benefit" Jethro Tull - a very catchy Guitar/Piano duo back up Ferguson's wailing about 'not making any deal' with the man. Things go seriously melodic with the beautifully produced "Life Has Just Begun" - an acoustic builder where all their voices are featured to great effect (wonderful remaster). The album goes into its only Rock 'n' Roll boogie in the shape of "Morning Will Come" (lyrics from it title this review) cleverly offset by the faded-in Elton John-type piano of "Soldier" - a serious song giving huge power by the pipe organ Producer David Briggs recorded for the finisher. It rounds off an album that just grows and grows with each listen...

I had expected the Bonus Tracks to be throwaway - but if anything the Previously Unreleased Byrds-sounding "Rougher Road" is a bit of a gem. The single mix of "Animal Zoo" has a visceral punch in Mono - not so sure about the Alternate Mono Mix of "Morning Will Come" which I think loses its power compared to the finished Stereo LP cut. The 'tapes rolling - this is Take No. 1' dialogue at the beginning of the non-album B-side "Red Light Roll On" only adds to its excellence (shame there appears to be no Stereo variant of this wicked groover).

Mid 2016 and there's a variant of SPIRIT is still kicking around today - but many will cast their hearts back 46 years to this period album - "Twelve Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus". 

Strange, melodic, rocking, trippy, socially contemporary and so much more - the sum of all its crazy and disparate parts working together as a one very cool and cohesive whole. 

As we used to say in the schoolyard when we were being terminally hip - I dig it 'man'...